City woman on welfare accused of heading marijuana operation

September 25, 1996|By Richard Irwin | Richard Irwin,SUN STAFF

Baltimore police seized $72,000 in cash and $6,000 in U.S. savings bonds yesterday from the safe-deposit box of a woman on public assistance who has been charged with heading a large marijuana operation in Pimlico.

A hold was put on the woman's $6,200 savings account at the Park Heights Avenue bank.

Also seized were a 1995 Mitsubishi Galant and a 1995 Suzuki Sidekick, operated by the woman but registered in her mother's name.

Collette Conway, 33, of the 5100 block of Linden Heights Ave. was arrested Monday at her mother's home in the 5000 block of Denmore Ave. Police said they found more than $1,600 on her.

Sgt. James Rood, head of the Northwestern District's drug enforcement unit, said the cash deposited at the NationsBank branch in the 4400 block of Park Heights Ave. was in stacks of $100 bills.

Conway was charged with multiple drug offenses, including possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and trafficking in drugs within 1,000 feet of a school.

She was being held in lieu of $25,000 bail at the Central Booking and Intake Center.

Also arrested at the Denmore Avenue address was Conway's brother, Eric, 35. He also was charged with marijuana offenses. The amount of his bail was not available.

The mother was not arrested.

Rood said that when police entered the Denmore Avenue home about 4: 30 p.m. Monday, Collette Conway was flushing marijuana down the toilet.

Rood said the arrests followed complaints from Pimlico residents in June that large amounts of marijuana were being distributed from Collette Conway's Linden Heights Avenue home.

Rood said evidence gathered by Robinson and Green indicated that a woman identified as Collette Conway was selling at least 2 pounds of marijuana daily.

Rood said the woman, whose son attends a private school, receives about $300 a month from the state's Department of Social Services and that her Linden Heights Avenue home contained furniture, appliances and a wide-screen television, the total value of which was valued at nearly $20,000.